Literally, "Laha" (prounced Laahaa) means profit, benefit or gain. Human life in the
world is of two types. The first which the majority lead is materialistic or
selfish wherein only the pursuit of worldly comforts and sense-pleasure is the
sole motive. While the other is a God-centered life wherein all actions are
oriented to realizing the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...). Likewise, all types of "Laahaa" earned
in this world can be grouped in two categories: Spiritual, and material.

The Gur-Shabad is saturated with Aatam Giaan (Divine Knowledge...). The "Laahaa" Gurbani talks about is the
Spiritual Wealth - Spiritual Enlightenment, Mool-realization...

Therefore, as
repeatedly urged in the Gurbani, utilization of human body for earning this
real "Profit" is the true "Laahaa" of one's life. On the contrary, consummation
of one's life for the sake of accumulating mere material profits or benefits,
and wasting time and energy in empty religious rituals (Dhaarmic Sode-Baajee) and useless worldly entanglements (Karamkaand)
is said to be the false "Laahaa".

ਲਾਹੇ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਆਇਆ ਜਗਿ ॥: Laahe kaarani aaiaa jagi: For the sake of earning the (Spiritual) Profit, the mortal comes into the world (sggs 931).

Our physical body is the foremost means to Spiritual evolution; for in it is the
temple of the Soul. It's the vehicle of life's journey.
We can either use it for making Spiritual Profit ("Laahaa") of experiencing
the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) by living a Gurmukh life of Spiritual values and dynamic Self-unfoldment;
or we can misuse, disuse, abuse or condemn it in the pursuit of false profits.
The choice is left to our discretion!

The difference between one pursuing worldly success for its own sake and a spiritual
seeker is that the latter enjoys the same without seeking it! So he is not attached
to them and accepts everything he enjoys in life as God's Grace. His mind remains
unperturbed without desires and fear; because he knows that the Spiritual Profit
is never lost! A true devotee, therefore, works righteously
(Dasaan Nohaan Dee Kirat Kamaaee) to fulfill his worldly duties, and to
maintain his body and mind in good condition conducive for gaining Self-knowledge
(Aatam-Giaan) and realization of the Self. Beyond that, he ruthlessly shuns
all types of desires; for he knows that man's selfish desires originate
from ignorance of the Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...), which is of the nature of "Joti-Svaroopa".

ਲਾਹਾ ਸਾਚੁ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਤੋਟਾ ॥: Laahaa saach
na aavai totaa: One who earns the Spiritual Profit of the True Name, will
not lose it again (sggs 933).

Actions performed in material bondage do not result in purifying the mind at all.
As reiterated in the scriptures, the goal of human life is liberation (Mukti)
from this bondage due to which the bonded Jeeva (individual being) undergoes
repeated birth and death. Liberation from this bondage puts an end to this cycle
of repeated pain and delusion. The depiction of material bondage and enumeration
of the means to emancipation in the scriptures make it clear that man has to strive
for attaining this end in this birth. As the human body is the most evolved and
suitable for realizing this Goal, the scriptures time and again remind us that
in this human life a Wise should practice virtues conducive to Mool-realization
from his very childhood. This is called earning of real "Profit" or "Laahaa"
in life, before returning back Home — the Source.

It's a known fact that material wealth cannot be amassed
without corruption. And, as indicated in the Divine Teachings, corruption and
spirituality are of the opposing nature! The former is "filth" (Mall)
whilst the latter is Purity. Since both are incompatible, they cannot coexist.

Our worldly mind deeply rooted in desires
prompt all of us to act in this world. In other words, the pluralistic world of
gross objects is activated by man's desires and related fear. These desires are
classified under the four heading: Arthawealth
or economic development), Kaam (sense gratification),
Dharmafaith or Dhaarmic activities,
Mokh or Moksha salvation.

In essence, when a Spiritual aspirant
turns to his True Dharma and orients his life towards the Spiritual Goal of Realizing the Mool within,
he is blessed with the other ends of life as well.

Apparently, in truth, the majority of us have no sincere
interest in Transcendental Knowledge, Dharma or salvation. It is because
of our selfishness and attachment to the sense-world that we maintain some religious
rituals or observance as long as such activities contribute to our material wealth
or worldly possessions. In turn, we use this economic development or material
success for our sense gratification. This is like pouring more fuel on already
blazing fire! However, the Gurbani suggests to the contrary:

On account of doubts and delusion, all day long the kicks of our mental imaginations,
worry over worldly profit and loss, and fear of death leave our Spirit neither
purity, gentleness or splendor, nor any way to travel to Spiritual heights. The
majority of us (over 99.9 percent!) are truly asleep in an unenlightened existence
in the world; for we have put hope in every imagination (Phurne) that passes
through our ego-mind and converse with it.

With such conditioned mind we perform religious rituals, read the Gurbani or Nitnem
without understanding their Sublime Divine Essence, wear religious robes, do all
sorts of Karamkaandee Paath Poojaa, undertake pilgrimage (Teerath Yaatraa),
bathe in waters of shrines, and so on. According to the Gurbani, this is all false
Laahaa.

The Divine Substance is Pure Love. Which is also man's inward Nature. But the
man conditions his love by emotionally associating it with worldly relations,
and, in consequence, wastes his life. That's the reason man's relatives are also
called "glorified thieves"; for they steal his wealth and possessions all their
lives! When he is left with no money, they all desert him!

ਸੁਖ ਮੈ ਬਹੁ ਸੰਗੀ ਭਏ ਦੁਖ ਮੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥:
Sukh mai bahu sangee bheae dukh mai sang na koe: In good times, there are
many companions around, but in bad times, there is no one at all (sggs 1428).

In this age, the majority of us, thus, seem to be interested
only in sense gratification. In the illusion to satisfy senses (which is impossible),
we make plans for developing wealth or material success. Participation in organized
religious activities and rituals is also motivated by the hope for further sense
gratification here as well as after death, in some far-off heaven, etc. All such
deeds are compared in the Gurbani with planting of seed in "Kallar" (salty
soil).

Apparently, in the life of a worldly person it can be seen that his worldly
achievements (material possessions, material education, material titles, etc.)
are responsible for distancing him from from his Mool. Material wealth, position and power,
for instance, make a person very proud and licentious as he is able to command
what he wants. Likewise, learning can make one arrogant as well if it is not tempered
with humility.

The Spiritual Beings (Gurmukhs) do not concede the joys of the world
as true happiness, and refer to worldly life as sorrowful. On the other hand,
a person who has not tasted the Bliss of his Mool is happy with the
fleeting worldly joys he enjoys due to his ignorance. As a consequence of this,
all his activities are aimed at pleasing his senses; because he does not understand
the evanescence of the worldly pleasures. More the material profit, more the
false ego. The moment one loses possessions, then he cries and bewails.

The Gurbani guides human beings on how they must regulate their lifestyles to
live amidst worldly activities and also realize the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...), which alone lends
meaning to human birth. However, the question scriptures
urge us to ask ourselves is: are we working for maintaining a healthy body and
sound mind so that we can realize the Mool, or are we working like a donkey to
cultivate ignorance for gratifying our senses?

Simply put, an individual being (Jeeva) has two choices to his disposal
- either he can use this life to yield the silent
benefits of bosom rid of its Vaasnaas, or he can use it for undertaking
those works which would injure his Spiritual sensitivity and dull his subtler
perceptions. According to the Gurbani, the Gurmukhs (Spiritual Beings)
chose the former path and gain all, while the Manmukhs (material beings)
chose the latter and lose all.

Thus, the key to earning True "Laahaa" in this life is becoming a Gurmukh.
Human life in the world is a mixed blessing because man has to undergo both periods
of fortune and misfortune in his life. Unalloyed Bliss (Anand) can be enjoyed
only in the state of Self-realization when one goes beyond both joys and sorrows.
At this level the person understands the evanescence of worldly happiness. Such
person is called Gurmukh in the Gurbani. In the following verses, the Gurbani
tells us as to how a Gurmukh makes the best use of his life —
he earns the Spiritual "Laahaa".

As repeated again and again in the Gurbani, realization
of the Naam is the real "Laahaa" in one's life. For realization of the
Naam or Shabad is the realization of the Mool (also called Satguru, Saadh, Sant, Sajjan, Sahib, Mahaan Purakh, Divine Essence, Supreme
Truth, Dasam Duaar, etc.). Wwithout realizing
the Naam, one cannot link with the Infinite Consciousness.

To realize the Naam (Shabad, Self, Unconditioned
Consciousness, etc.) within, we are instructed by the Gurbani to become detached
(Bairaag) from the sense-world. Instead, we are urged to cultivate Shabad
Vichaar, Bhagti, Naam-Dhann, Naam Jap, Gur-Sevaa,
Satsangat, acceptance of the Divine Hukam, and so on. In the end, these
pursuits enable one realize Aatm and Parmaatam, and their relationship.

The experience of the Divine Essence is proportional to detachment. Thus, detachment
is essential for realizing the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...). Desire and attachment, which are extension of
the ego, are the root cause of man's sorrows. It is human nature to act in haste
and repent in leisure. The reasons for hasty action are manifold but they can
all be traced to one's emotional attachment which prods him to do so. Like other
failings and weaknesses, attachment to one's kith and kin also creates predicament
in life when a person who is wedded to values forsakes them and then bemoans his
lot when problems crop up. Therefore, a Spiritual seeker (Sikh) develops true
detachment which is essential for further Spiritual Unfoldment. As a consequence
he undertakes all work in the right spirit of unselfishness and detachment, which
leads to exhaustion of his Vaasnaas (the deep-rooted desires).

ਜੋ ਸਬਦਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਮਹਾ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸੋ ਸਚੁ ਸਬਦੇ ਲਾਹਾ ਹੇ ॥: Jo sabadi raatae mehaa bairaagee so sach sabade laahaa hae:
Those who are imbued with the Shabad, are very detached. They earn the
profit of the True Word of the Shabad, the Naam (sggs 1054).

The true Shabad-Vichaar, Inner Inquiry, leads to Spiritual Unfoldment. It is
to constantly inquire, reflect, contemplate, investigate,
or directly look into: "Who am I? How can I know where I have come from? Where
did I originate, and where will I go and merge? How am I bound, and how do I obtain
liberation? How do I merge with intuitive ease (Sahaj) into the Eternal?
What is this world: the place of repeated birth and death? How I have come into
being in this temporal and transient state? What is mind? Who is the sufferer?
What is the Truth?", and so on. As the Shabad-Vichaar relates to Giaan,
the pure Divine Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan) arises with the aid and practice of
such Inner Inquiry, followed by Sahaj-Avasthaa (natural state of Being),
intuitive peace, true understanding, pure love and devotion, unselfishness, and
ending of all material suffering.

Hukam isthe Divine Law or Bhaanaa. It's acceptance of
one's life as it presents to himself. To put it otherwise, it is the acceptance
of "likes" and "dislikes" such as sorrows and pleasures, insult
and praise, up and downs of life, etc., with even vision, as Gur-Parsaad
(God's Grace). Not easy at all!

Bhagti simply means acting Spiritually in accordance with God's
Hukam (Divine Law). It's the science for Mool-realization, which brings
about the Union, in Love, between the individual consciousness (Aatmaan)
and the Supreme Consciousness (Parmaatmaan).

The Gurmukh ever remains aware that the Mool — the Satguru...
— trades only with the Wealth (Dhann) of the Divine Name. Therefore, he
only undertakes those deeds which will bring him the Spiritual Benefit ("Laahaa")
of this True Wealth.

With this Naam-Dhann, he then serves the True Guru within. The performance
of this Eternal Sevaa to the Mool is considered as the ultimate good that
a Spiritual aspirant can aspire for as the fruit of all his self-efforts (Shabad-Vichaar...). The
Gurbani calls it "Oobhee" Sevaa — Internal, Transcendental or Formless
Service, which is an end in itself! Here the devoted Soul in the Transcendental
realm engage themselves in the service of the Divine Essence. This is meditation
on God, with deep faith and one-pointed concentration.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿ ਲੈਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਖਹਿ ਉਰ ਧਾਰਿ ॥: Satgur sevan aapnaa gur
shabadee veechaar...: Those who serve their True Guru, who contemplate the
Word of the Gur-Shabad, who honor and obey the Will of the True Guru, who
keep God’s Name enshrined within their hearts, are honored, here and hereafter;
they are dedicated to the business of God’s Name (sggs 1415).

We have fallen into the whirlpool of repeated suffering. If we consider ourselves
clever, then the demand of the Gurbani is to strive for attaining True Wealth
of the Divine Name while the human body is yet sound. God has endowed man with
freedom and freewill to act. So how one makes the optimum use of the opportunity
given is within one's control. This is the reason the scriptures emphasize cultivation
of taste for Spiritual life right from young age. As one progresses Spiritually
through the practice of Devotion the negative tendencies of the mind disappear.
As the Gurbani reminds us, only those who earn the Spiritual Profit of the Divine
Essence are the True Being. Thus, the perfect "Laahaa" earned in one's
life is the attainment of Spiritual Perfection, "hear and now"!